AGC’s Construction Safety, Health & Environmental Conference is the industry’s foremost annual conference to hone in on the most critical safety, health and environmental compliance and risk issues impacting the business of construction.  As a leader in construction safety, health and environment, our top priority is the safety and health of our members, attendees, speakers and staff. We have been closely monitoring the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic and, due to phased re-opening restrictions in our host city, Louisville, Kentucky, we will be pivoting to a completely virtual experience for our July 14-16 schedule of events. Join us, wherever you are, for the same superior educational content and peer-to-peer engagement that you have come to expect from AGC.

 

We have reduced the registration fees for this conference to reflect the virtual delivery format. Over the course of three days, we will bring you informative presentations, panel discussions and interactive breakouts from remote locations via our virtual conference stage. Attendees can also participate in Q&A with speakers and learn about the exhibitors.  And, if you are unable to join us for a specific online session, your registration gives you access to recordings of the education sessions and the opportunity to earn continuing education credits. AGC is excited to reinvent our annual conference to continue to bring industry leaders together – especially during these challenging times – to learn, share best practices, and support each other. Browse the lineup of sessions for this year and register today.

AGC is requesting presentation proposals covering construction safety and health issues as well as those cross-over topics that would appeal to a broader audience of Safety, Health & Environmental (SH&E) professionals; for example leadership, management, training, general technologies, or risk and crisis management that use a mix of safety and health and environmental examples. The conferences address the most critical safety and health issues impacting the business of construction, provides management guidance for professionals, and gives context for other construction professionals looking to understand the key concepts and round out their knowledge.

 

For more information on speaker expectations, important deadlines, and how to submit your proposal, click here.

Each year AGC of America surveys highway and transportation members about the state of highway work zone safety. Our intent is to measure the extent, and impact, of highway work zone crashes, their impacts on the safety of construction workers and motorists and their impacts on highway construction. Now that many states have begun to lift restrictions, and growing anecdotal reports of motorists taking advantage of less-crowded highway to operate at unsafe speeds, AGC of America and our survey partner HCSS are asking all highway and transportation members to complete the following online survey. Please complete the survey by Monday, June 22nd. AGC will then analyze the responses and release the results prior to the July 4th weekend to the media. This will allow us to share key safety messages with the motoring public prior to what is likely to be a busy period for holiday travel on our highways. Please contact AGC of America’s Brian Turmail at brian.turmail@agc.org or 703-459-0238 with any questions.

COVID-19 has disrupted our work and family routines. COVID-19 has increased stress and anxiety even among those fortunate to be working. As stress levels have intensified, alcohol and substance use are reportedly rising significantly.

The coronavirus has required many construction firms to change the way they operate. AGC is committed to helping the industry keep workers safe and keep construction going. We are posting coronavirus safety tips at workingsafe.agc.org every Wednesday. We encourage you to incorporate these tips into your discussions and materials to employees.

On May 26, OSHA launched a webpage with coronavirus-related guidance for construction employers and workers. The guidance includes recommended actions—many of which AGC members have likely already incorporated in their safety plans—to reduce the risk of exposure to the coronavirus. One item AGC members should take note of is how the guidance details specific construction tasks with exposure risk levels (from low to very high). AGC will continue to monitor how the current pandemic progresses to keep members up to date.

Now, more than ever, safety is crucial both inside and outside the workplace, which is why the National Safety Council will still be recognizing National Safety Month® in June. Observed annually by NSC, the nation’s leading nonprofit safety advocate, National Safety Month focuses on saving lives and preventing injuries, from the workplace to anyplace. Given the current state of the world, the month will look a little different than past years. Instead of focusing on a single topic each week, we will provide real-time, relevant resources on a variety of topics for keeping workers safe in our new normal. Sign up now to access free materials on pressing topics.

Faith Technologies is the proud recipient of the 2020 Willis Towers Watson AGC Construction Safety Excellence Grand Award! With its focus on safety, the company has achieved a lot together, but we’re just getting started. Read more about Faith Technologies and its safety program on its YouTube channel, Facebook page, LinkedIn profile and Twitter feed, as well as the video gallery on the company website.

This handy 29 CFR 1926 volume is made with RegLogic®, which takes the difficulty out of reading and using government regulations. You can use the book's Quick-Find Index™ to quickly access the information you need. Included you will find the 1903 regulations on inspections, citations, and proposed penalties; the 1904 regulations on recording and reporting occupational injuries and illnesses; pertinent 1910 general industry regulations; and every 1926 construction industry regulation. Updated through Jan. 2011.

 

AGC’s Culture of CARE initiative is challenging leaders to take a bold and visible step towards ensuring their workplaces are welcoming, safe and inclusive for an increasingly diverse and talented pool of workers. On this episode, our guests share how this important program got started, how it’s growing, how it’s benefiting contractors in the AGC family, and how more contractors can sign the pledge and get started.

 

A 92 percent reduction in employee-involved rear-end collisions, a 5 percent reduction in insurance premiums and at least a 5 percent savings in fuel costs are the most significant results that Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing, a member of multiple AGC chapters, saw in the first one and a half years of a new driver safety program.

BY SHERYL S. JACKSON

Behavior-based training aims to reduce risk and liability for construction managers and save as many lives as possible.

BY LISA KOPOCHINSKI